Two Garth Brooks Comeback Shows in Ireland Refused Permission by Council

The Dublin city council has refused to give permission for two of the five Garth Brooks concerts planned for this month at Croke Park in Ireland.

Apparently, even one of the biggest country superstars in the world making a highly-anticipated comeback still has to get approval from the city council. And unfortunately, the Dublin council has said no to two of Brooks' planned shows for fear of noise, traffic disruption, illegal parking and "potential antisocial behavior," according to the Irish Times.

Local residents have been fighting the country star's concerts, bringing up an ordinance that rules the park can only have three concerts a year. A week ago, Croke Park Director Peter McKenna was optimistic Brooks' shows would go on, saying, “In my view it will go ahead and the five concerts will happen."

However, the plan seems to be in jeopardy now. The concerts were supposed to take place July 25-29, but the last two shows have not been granted permission. In all, 400,000 fans are expected to attend the 'Friends in Low Places' singer's comeback concerts across the five nights.

The council expresses that the “scale, magnitude and number” of concerts was “unprecedented” for Croke Park Stadium. Three of the concerts were scheduled to take place on weeknights, and apparently, the residents just want some peace and quiet--instead of Brooks' 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' echoing in their backyards.

The singer announced his career comeback -- dubbed the Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event -- in January, and all of the dates sold out in a flash. The Croke Park shows will mark seventeen years since Brooks first played at the famed stadium, and his series of shows would have been the first time for an artist to play five consecutive concerts at Croke Park.